Now, let's hear from the wife

When my husband and I got married five years and one week ago, some folks were skeptical. I mean, on the surface we don't seem compatible at all.

He watches football. I'm only there for the marching band. He likes movies by Quentin Tarantino. I'm not even sure who Quentin Tarantino is - the "Pulp Fiction" guy, right? I vote Democrat. He doesn't.

But true love wins out.

Maybe it's because we were in our late 40s when we married. Or maybe it's because we'd first met in college and have been best friends for years. Whatever the reasons, we've had a great five years and one week of marriage and look forward to many more.

This past week, my husband shared five things he's learned about marriage. Now it's my turn.

1. Compromise. Despite the fact that 9 p.m. for me is time to start yawning and think about bed and a nice book (OK, really 8 p.m. is but even I'm embarrassed to admit that) and 9 p.m. for him is time to start planning what to do with the rest of the day, like most successfully married couples, we've worked out a compromise - he doesn't wake me when he comes to bed at 2 a.m. and, I don't wake him up when I get out of bed three hours later.

2. Respect. My husband is a good man. I know that. He's a smart man. I know that, too. So whenever he starts talking about his political views, I focus on those good things about him that I love and don't point out all the ways he's oh-so-wrong. And he returns the favor.

3. Sharing. When it comes to household chores, husbands need to feel needed. Yes, I can take the garbage out myself and change the light bulbs. But if he wants to help, then I'm not going to stand in his way - especially when I could be sitting on the couch reading the latest People magazine and eating chocolate. Oh, and honey? You missed a spot over there.

4. Mind-reading. OK, what am I thinking now? I'm thinking that as wonderful as my husband is, he cannot read my mind. Wives have tried this for centuries, and it still doesn't work. The thought I'm sending him now about how aggravated I am that he didn't notice my new hair color isn't going to penetrate at all. So I should just tell him what a doofus he is. In a nice way, of course.

5. Honesty. While I never would advocate total truth-telling - he'd better, after all, say he loves my new hair color no matter what - a healthy dose of honesty is essential. And, honestly, that's the best part of being married: Saying what you really think and knowing the other person understands and loves you anyway.

Cathy Wood is a freelance writer living in the Shoals. For more from her, visit TimesDaily.com.